Barcelona open La Liga title defence strolling past nine-man Mallorca 3-0

BARCELONA – Spanish champions Barcelona opened their La Liga campaign on Aug 16 with an island cruise, as they played almost an hour against nine men on their way to a 3-0 victory in Mallorca.

But their second-half stroll did not please coach Hansi Flick.

“They’re three important points, but I didn’t like the match,” he told broadcaster Movistar.

“After going two goals up and following Mallorca’s two red cards, I think the team only gave 50 per cent and I didn’t like that.

“Playing at 50 or 60 per cent is not possible against nine players.”

Two of Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or nominees combined to put the visitors ahead after seven minutes, Lamine Yamal crossing for Raphinha to head in at the Son Moix.

Yamal played a key role in the second goal after 23 minutes. Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo headed away the teenager’s shot and then fell to the ground.

As the referee waved play on and Mallorca failed to clear, the ball fell to Ferran Torres. He fired home from the edge of the box.

“If I would be on the other side of the decision, I also would be not happy but I always say to my team, until the referee stops the match we have to continue,” said Flick, speaking in English at the post-match press conference.

“The referee didn’t stop the match, so there you go. That they are unhappy with that decision, I can also imagine.”

Manu Morlanes was one of two Mallorca players booked for dissent as they told the referee he should have stopped the game. Ten minutes later, he received a second yellow for a challenge on the rampant Yamal and was sent off.

In the 39th minute, as Barcelona’s debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia jumped to head a ball clear, Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi challenged with his boot so high he planted his studs on Garcia’s cheek. The Kosovar also saw red.

Barcelona relaxed in the second half. Flick brought on summer loan signing Marcus Rashford, whose league registration was cleared only on the morning of Aug 16, for his Liga debut.

Deep into injury time, 18-year-old Yamal picked up the ball on the right, left three defenders trailing as he cut across the top of the penalty area and curled a left-foot shot into the top corner with the final kick of the game.

“He surprises you every day. He’s a spectacular player,” said Flick.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone dismissed concerns about a proposed La Liga match in the United States featuring Barcelona, saying it was too early to worry about its potential impact.

Real Madrid have opposed the proposal to move the December clash between Villarreal and Barca to Miami, which was approved by the Spanish football federation on Aug 18, although it must still be given the green light by Uefa, US Soccer, Concacaf and Fifa.

“We’re always worrying about things that often don’t end up happening. We wear ourselves out over things that don’t happen,” Simeone told reporters on Aug 16, the eve of his club’s visit to Espanyol for their opening La Liga game of the season.

The match took place after press time. AFP, REUTERS